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When I was a child, yes. Chesterfield was very common here in BC. Not sure about the ROC.
Common in Ontario too, when I was younger.
Quote:
Another one gone, is Serviette.
True, but we still have gutters on the street and eavestroughs on our homes.
Canadian English is unique. It is not American, but at the same time, it is most assuredly not British. Our cars do not have bonnets and boots, they don't drive on tyres, we do not park them next to the kerb, and we don't fill them with petrol.
Of course, many of our American friends know that we look at the world in a variety of colours, we go to the theatre or to the shopping centre, we hear rumours, and we have a great sense of humour. And while we don't do it much anymore, thanks to modern banking practices, those of us of a certain age have written any number of cheques--and cashed them too.
Heck, in a Canadian bar or restaurant, you don't ask for your check. You ask for your tab. Something Americans understand, but rarely use (IME); and that seems to completely flummox our British friends.
I would suggest that our OP regard Canadian English as its own dialect, rather than trying to slot it into some sort of "Commonwealth" or "British" dialect.
True, but we still have gutters on the street and eavestroughs on our homes.
Canadian English is unique. It is not American, but at the same time, it is most assuredly not British. Our cars do not have bonnets and boots, they don't drive on tyres, we do not park them next to the kerb, and we don't fill them with petrol.
Of course, many of our American friends know that we look at the world in a variety of colours, we go to the theatre or to the shopping centre, we hear rumours, and we have a great sense of humour. And while we don't do it much anymore, thanks to modern banking practices, those of us of a certain age have written any number of cheques--and cashed them too.
Heck, in a Canadian bar or restaurant, you don't ask for your check. You ask for your tab. Something Americans understand, but rarely use (IME); and that seems to completely flummox our British friends.
I would suggest that our OP regard Canadian English as its own dialect, rather than trying to slot it into some sort of "Commonwealth" or "British" dialect.
I do, as I stated elsewhere in the thread or I would have posted this in the UK forum here. You share some traits that is all. I was wondering if anyone was familiar with this particular usage, and whether or not it was a Canadian thing or derived from Britain.
Myself, I have a California accent, tempered by having phonics drilled into me as a young child, so it's not exactly the same as fellow Californians. I moved to Michigan ten years ago, where there is a strong Northern Cities dialect, similar to Chicago. I make the joke that Detroit is like what if Chicago and Toronto had a baby. At any rate, my accent is basically Toronto to local ears here without the Canadianisms (progress, beeeen, etc). But I do say oot and aboot if Im speaking in a hurry lol. Yes I know that is an exaggeration and not universal. I have a devil of a time convincing Michiganders Im not Canadian lol, and a time convincing Windsorites I wasnt a local.
True, but we still have gutters on the street and eavestroughs on our homes.
Canadian English is unique. It is not American, but at the same time, it is most assuredly not British. Our cars do not have bonnets and boots, they don't drive on tyres, we do not park them next to the kerb, and we don't fill them with petrol.
Of course, many of our American friends know that we look at the world in a variety of colours, we go to the theatre or to the shopping centre, we hear rumours, and we have a great sense of humour. And while we don't do it much anymore, thanks to modern banking practices, those of us of a certain age have written any number of cheques--and cashed them too.
Heck, in a Canadian bar or restaurant, you don't ask for your check. You ask for your tab. Something Americans understand, but rarely use (IME); and that seems to completely flummox our British friends.
I would suggest that our OP regard Canadian English as its own dialect, rather than trying to slot it into some sort of "Commonwealth" or "British" dialect.
Agreed. The differences between global English dialects go a lot deeper than vocabulary, and it's often the different grammatical styles that cause miscommunication. A simple example is a statement like "how hot was that," which in Australia quite often means "how hot was that!," ie "that was really hot!" So if any Brit or American kindly responds with "it must have been over 38 degrees," they will get an unexpected reaction.
Agreed. The differences between global English dialects go a lot deeper than vocabulary, and it's often the different grammatical styles that cause miscommunication. A simple example is a statement like "how hot was that," which in Australia quite often means "how hot was that!," ie "that was really hot!" So if any Brit or American kindly responds with "it must have been over 38 degrees," they will get an unexpected reaction.
In many ways, Australian English is like a different language altogether lol.
Heck, in a Canadian bar or restaurant, you don't ask for your check. You ask for your tab. Something Americans understand, but rarely use (IME); and that seems to completely flummox our British friends.
In American English, when we go to a pub or bar we say "open a tab" which we then close out at the end of the night.
Well it's a good thing Canadians joined with the Yanks for "Flashlight". Or else American visitors would be setting things on fire it told "Too dark in there? Just grab a torch!"....
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